Starter for hydrocarbon-engines.



' J. B. RUNNER. STARTER FOR HYDROOARBON ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1910.

Patented'Nov. 1, 1910.,

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J. B. RUNNER. STARTER POE HYDROOARBON ENGINES.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 20, 1910.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B; RUNNER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO LEONARD M. QUILLAND LOUIS A. BROWNE, BOTH OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

STARTER FOR HYDROCARBON-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed June 20, 1910. Serial No. 567,968.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. RUNNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starters forHydrocarbon-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in starters for hydrocarbonexplosive engines, and is particularly adapted to such engines used onautomobiles and boats.

The object of the invention is to provide a safety means to preventinjury to the operator and to the machine caused by backfiring in thecylinder while the engine is being cranked in starting it.

The object, also, is to provide a simple and practicable mechanismwhereby the initial rotation of the crank shaft in startin the engine ofan automobile may be secured by the operator while he remains in hisseat in the machine.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 isa side elevation of my invention showing it in operative relation withthe engine cylinder and crank-case of an automobile; Fig. 2 is a sectionon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig.8 is a detail on a larger scale than shown in Fig. 1 of the mechanismfor throwin the clutch coupling on the crank-shaft 1nto engagement; Fig.4 is a detail in longitudinal section of the spring barrel in saidmechanism for operating the clutch-coupling; Fig. 5 is a detail showingthe manner of retaining the locking rollers in their seats; Fig. 6 is asection 011 the line 66 of Fi 2; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 ofF1 6; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectionon the line 99 of Fig. 6 part of the case being broken away; Fig. 10 isa view of the arm which carries the small ratchet wheels, showing bothratchet wheels removed, and Fig. 11 is a view showing both ratchetWheels and supporting arm for the small one in section.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

Referrin first, particularly to Fig. 1, 12 is a half-c utch on the endof the crankshaft of the en ine which shaft (not shown) is located witin the casing13. 14 is a cylinder of an explosive engine and 15 is partof the frame of an automobile, said frame, cylinder and crank-case beingof any suitable and usual construction. 16 is a clutchhalf mounted on ashaft 17 and which mates with the part 12 to couple shaft 17 with theengine crank shaft when the two parts 12 and 16 are mutually engaged.The shaft 17 is longitudinall adjustable and is moved normally outwar bya spring 18 to separate the coupling. A crank 19 on the outer end ofshaft 17 serves the usualpurpose for normally rotatin the crank shaft ofthe engine, through sha 17, for starting the engine.

The operative parts of my invention are assembled within or secured to adrum-like case 20 with fiat heads and cylindrical sides which case isfastened to the frame 15, and surrounds shaft 17. Loosely mounted on theshaft 17 and passing through the case 20 is a sleeve 22, the walls ofwhich at its inner end are slotted on two diametrical sides at 23 toreceive the ends of a pin 24 carried by shaft 17, whereby motion oftranslation is transmitted to the shaft inde endently of the sleeve, butboth sleeve and shaft must rotate together.

Mounted on the sleeve 22 in a fixed manner Within the case against theouter head of the latter is a circular disk 25 which makes a close'fitwithin a ring 26 which is rigidly secured to or is an integral partof the said outer head of case 20. The rin 26 is provided with recesses27 to receive roflers 28 which bear against the edges of the disk 25.The recesses taper toward the rear or in the opposite direction from therotary travel of the shaft 17 in properly cranking the engine. Thepurpose of this is to act as an automatic lock to the plate 25 andprevent its back movement, Wh1le permitting its unrestricted forwardmovement. When the back pressure, however, exceeds a limit of safetyprovide a friction release. This comprises a pair of brake shoes 30 heldin radially adjustable holders 31 mounted on diametricall 0 posite sidesof sleeve 22. These hol ers ave stems which are slidingly held so as toendanger the mechanism, I

wheel 37 from brake shoes 30 is an elon gated hub 38 one end of whichterminates on the outside of the case 20, and is provided with a lever39 by means of which a rocking movement may be transmitted to the hub38. The lever 39 will generally be connected by the usual rods with ahand or foot lever (not shown), conveniently mounted in the body of themachine near the operators seat.

Mounted on the inner end or that end of the hub 38 which is within thecase 20, is an arm 40 which carries a small ratchet wheel 41, thefunction of which is to serve as a pawl to engage the teethof theratchet wheel 37, by the rocking of hub 38, and impart a progressiverotary movement to the sleeve 22, and through sleeve 22 to the shaft 17.To avoid a lock between the two wheels 37 and .41' when the arm 40 ismoved in a direction to secure a new hold of ratchet wheel 41 on wheel37 and also to release the two ratchet wheels'in case of backfiring ofthe engine, I mount the ratchet wheel 41 on a block 42 which isslidingly mounted in a slot 43 extending longitudinally of the arm 40,and provide a shoulder 44 in the slot to engage a corner 45 of the blockwhen the movement of arm 40 is in the direction to cause its wheel 41 tonormally rotate wheel 37. The block will be pressed down constantly by aspring 46. When the arm 40 is moved in the direction of the arrow, Fig.9, the block 42 will engage the shoulder of slot 43 and the teeth ofwheel 41 will drivingly engage those of wheel 37, but when the movementof arm 40 is in a direction opposite that indicated by the arrow theblock will be released and will moveout in its slot as shown in Figs. 10and 11, thereby re? leasing the wheel 37. As an additional safe guardagainst injury to the mechanism by back-firing, I provide a coneprojection 50 on block 42, on which the ratchet wheel 41 is mounted. Thewheel 41 has a correspond ing conical hole to receive the cone 50 and isretained thereon by a bolt 52 by means of which the frictionalengagement between the wheel and cone may be regulated so as to causethe wheel 41 to slip on the cone above a predetermined strain.

I will now describe the means for so moving the shaft 17 longitudinallyin opposition to spring 18, as to unite the clutch members 12 and 16 andcouple the shaft 17 to the crank shaft of the engine. The shaft 17 isprovided with a radially projecting pin 52, and loosely mounted on theshaft between said pin and the pins 24 is a collar 53 which issurrounded by a sleeve 54. The sleeve 54 is supported in a fixed mannerby arms 55 from the adjacent drum of the case 20 and for convenience inassembling, the sleeve 54 and arms 55 will be split, as shown in Fig. 2.The sleeve has a longitudinal slot for the projection therethrough of apin 56 carried by the collar 53. The lever 39 has a pair of integralears 58, between which a shoe 59 is pivoted, and this shoe is connectedwith the pin 56 on collar 53 by a telescoping rod 60. The barrel 61 ofthis telescoping rod contains a spring 62 which normally elongates therod but allows it to shorten when an abnormal strain as from baclofiringis delivered to it. A cam flange 64 projecting from the adjacent head ofcase 20, in the path of shoe 59, moves the shoe outwardly, and by itsconnection through the rod 60 with collar 53 moves the latter toward thecrank-case 13 and thereby moves shaft 17 longitudinally coupling theshaft 17 to the crank-shaft ofthe engine. The position on the caseheadof the camflange 64 depends upon when in the movement of lever 39 it isdesired to couple shaft 17 to the engine shaft. If it be so placed thatthe shoe will be thrown out and the coupling made during the firstperiod of travel of the lever then the remaining travel of the leverwill operate through the mechanism as described, in case 20, to crankthe engine, making it unnecessary for the operator to leave his seat forthis purpose. The lever 39 can be moved back to first position and a newhold taken for cranking purposes, and'this repeated until the engine hasstarted properly. Every forward movement of shaft 17 will be held by thecam-lock rollers28 and in case of back-firing, injury to person andmachinery is obviated at three places (1) at the brake-shoe connectionbetween plate 25 and sleeve 22, (2) by the disengagement of ratchetwheel 41 from its mate 37 and (3) by the easement and uncouplingafforded by spring 62 in barrel 61.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Then the shaft 17 isdisconnected from the crank shaft of the engine and it is desired tobring the starting device into use, the lever 39 is moved towardcamfiange 64, causing the shoe 59 to be thrown out sufiiciently to presscollar 53 against the radial pins on shaft 17, and move the shaftlongitudinally into clutch connection with the engine crank shaft, andtheengine is cranked by the continued movement of lever 39. Thiscontinued movement of the lever 39 also rotates sleeve 38 on which it ismounted, thereby oscillating arm 40' and engaging ratchet wheel 37 byratchet wheel 41 carried by arm 40. The sleeve 22 on which wheel 37 ismounted is thus rotarily moved and by the friction engagement of shoes30 in holde'i's 31, which holders are carried by disk 25, the disk 25will be retarily moved. When the lever 39 is moved on its return travelthe sliding block on which wheel 41 is mounted is thrown out ofengagement with shoulder 44: in slot 43, allowing the wheel 41 to moveup out of engagement with wheel 37 and. enable wheel 41 to get a newhold on wheel 37. Back movement of the disk 25 is prevented by rollers28 in the rearwardly tapering recesses 27. Injury caused by back-firingis prevented by the release afforded by the regulated engagement betweenthe wheel ll and its cone mounting 50; also by the predeterminedfrict-ion of shoes 30 against sleeve 22, allowing the release of disk 25above certain strains, and still again by the compression of spring 62in the connection between the shoe 59 and sleeve 53.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and wish tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination, with an engine, of a shaft, a coupling fordetachably connecting the engine and shaft, a sleeve mounted on theshaft, a ratchet wheel mounted on the sleeve, means for permittingrotation in only one direction of the sleeve on the shaft, a leverhaving a hub through which the shaft passes, an arm on the hub of thelever, and means on the arm for drivingly engaging the ratchet wheel asthe hub is rocked by the lever.

2. The combination, with an engine, of a shaft, manual means forrotating the shaft, a coupling for detachably connecting the engine andshaft, a fixed ring, a circular disk rotating with the shaft and makinga close working fit in the ring, said ring having rearwardly taperingrecesses next to the disk, rollers in said recesses to lock the diskagainst back travel, and means for permitting the shaft to turn in thedisk at a predetermined back strain comprising radially adjustablebrake-shoes secured to the disk, and means for regulating the inwardpres sure of said shoes.

3. The combination, with an engine, of a shaft, a coupling fordetachably connecting the engine and shaft, a fixed ring, a circulardisk rotating with the shaft and making a close working fit in the ring,said ring having rearwardly tapering recesses next to the disk, rollersin said recesses to lock the disk against back travel, a lever having ahub through which the shaft passes, a ratchet wheel, means for rotatingthe disk by the rotation of the ratchet wheel, an arm on the hub of thelever and means on the arm for drivingly engaging the ratchet wheel asthe hub is rocked by manually operating the lever.

4. The combination, with an engine, of a shaft, a coupling fordetachably connecting the engine and shaft, a fixed ring, a circulardisk rotating with the shaft and making a close working fit in the ring,said ring hav ing rearwardly tapering recesses next to the disk, rollersin said recesses to lock the disk against back travel, a lever having ahub through which the shaft passes, a ratchet wheel, means for rotatingthe disk by the retation of the ratchet wheel, an arm on the hub of thelever, a ratchet wheel on the arm, and means for causing drivingengagement between the two wheels at one travel of the arm anddisengagement at the other.

5. The combination, with an engine, of a shaft, a coupling fordetachably connecting the engine and shaft, a fixed ring, a circulardisk rotating with the shaft and making a close working fit in the ring,said ring having rearwardly tapering recesses next to the disk, rollersin said recesses to lock the disk against back travel, a lever having ahub through which the shaft passes, a ratchet wheel, means for rotatingthe disk by the rotation of the ratchet wheel, an arm on the hub of thelever, a ratchet wheel on the arm, means for causing driving engagementbetween the two wheels at one travel of the arm and disengagement at theother, and means connecting the coupling and lever to connect the shaftby a movement of the lever.

6. The combination, with an engine, of a shaft, a coupling fordetachably connecting the engine and shaft, afixed ring, a sleevemounted on and rotating with the shaft, a circular disk loosely mountedon the sleeve and making a close working fit in the ring, said ringhaving rearwardly tapering recesses next to the disk, rollers in saidrecesses to lock the disk againstback travel, a friction means forsecuring the disk to the sleeve to permit its movement on the latterunder a predetermined strain, a ratchet wheel mounted in a fixed manneron the sleeve, a lever having a hub loosely mounted on the sleeve saidhub having an arm, and means carried by the arm for actuating theratchet wheel.

7. The combination, with an engine, of a shaft, a coupling fordetachably connecting the engine and shaft, a fixed ring, a sleevemounted on and rotating with the shaft, a circulardisk loosely mountedon the sleeve and making a close working fit in the ring, said ringhaving rearwardly tapering recesses next to the disk, rollers in saidrecesses to lock the disk against back travel, a friction means forsecuring the disk to the sleeve to permit its movement on the latterunder a predetermined strain, a ratchet &

Wheel mounted in a fixed manner on the sleeve, a lever having a hubloosely mounted on the sleeve said hub having an arm, means carried bythe arm for actuating the ratchet Wheel, and means connecting the leverwith said coupling to operate the latter.

8. The combination, With an engine, of a shaft, a coupling fordetachably connecting the engine and shaft, a fixed ring, a sleevemounted on and rotating with the shaft, a circular disk loosely mountedon the sleeve and making a close Working fit in the ring, said ringhaving rearwardly tapering recesses next to the disk, rollers in saidrecesses to lock the disk against back travel, a friction means forsecuring the disk to the sleeve to permit its movement on the latterunder a predetermined strain, a ratchet Wheel mounted in a fixed manneron the sleeve, a lever having a hub loosely mounted on the sleeve saidhub having an arm, said arm having a longitudinal slot, a blockslidingly mounted in the slot, means for locking and unlocking the blockin the slot by the movement of the arm, and a ratchet Wheel mounted onthe block to engage said first ratchet Wheel.

9. The combination, With an engine, of a shaft, a coupling fordetachably connecting the engineand shaft, a fixed ring, a

sleeve mounted on and rotating With the shaft, a circular disk looselymounted on the sleeve and making a close Working fit in the ring, saidring having rearwardly tapering recesses next to the disk, rollers insaid recesses to lock the d1sk agalnst back travel, a friction means forsecurmg the d1sk to the sleeve to permit its movement on the latterunder a predetermined strain, a ratchet Wheel mounted in a fixed manneron the sleeve, a lever having a hub loosely mounted on the sleeve saidhub having an arm, said arm having a longitudinal slot, a blockslidingly Y this 28th day of May, A. D. one thousand nine hundred andten.

JOHN B. RUNNER.

lVitnesses:

F. VVOERNER, L. B. WVOERNER.

